Spain and Argentina met in the World Cup Final at New York New Jersey Stadium, and it was never going to be a pretty game. For 105 minutes, Argentina made sure of that.
Lionel Scaloni potentially set his side up to go rough towards Spain rather than dominate them, pulling Lionel Messi deeper and turning the final into a physical battle. It worked for stretches but ultimately fell apart.
Spain won 1-0 and lifted the trophy while Argentina was left to deal with the fallout from a game plan that cost them dearly.
Enzo Fernandez Red Card Costs Argentina in World Cup Final
REUTERS - Agustin Marcarian
The match turned decisively on Enzo Fernandez. The Chelsea midfielder picked up a yellow card in the 81st minute for arguing with the referee and then completely lost his head in stoppage time.
His challenge on Pau Cubarsí earned him a second yellow and a red card, leaving Argentina down to 10 men heading into extra time.
That moment also tied an unwanted record. According to Guinness World Records, Argentina have now matched Brazil's all-time mark of 11 red cards in World Cup history.
Playing a man down, Argentina's time-wasting tactics that had defined much of the night stopped working in their favor. Spain kept the pressure on and eventually found the only goal they needed.
Argentina did not register a single shot during regulation, becoming the first team in World Cup Final history to finish 90 minutes without one.
Spain, meanwhile, finished with 20 shots to Argentina's two, both of which came late in extra time as desperate attempts rather than genuine chances.
The tension didn't stop at the final whistle either. Leandro Paredes shoved Gavi to the ground after the match had ended, earning himself a red card in the aftermath.
For Argentina, it's a difficult result to process. For Messi, who could have been playing in his last World Cup, the night ended without the moment everyone hoped for.
